Back catalogue: Minimal/Tech House

Review: ***B-STOCK: Sleeve split on top but otherwise in excellent condition***


Okain brings the class to this final outing of the year from German tech titans RAND Muzik. It's a full-throttle 12" that wastes no time in getting down to business: 'Dirac Sea' combines funky drum programming with nice squelchy acid, warped synth lines and crisp percussion to soon sweep you off your feet. 'Pterodactyl Phaser' is smoother and has a subtle garage shuffle to its low end, while balmy pads keep things cosmic up top. 'Spintronics' then ups the ante once more with thumping tech kicks and lively synth lines. 'Circuit Model' shuts down with some nice psychedelic clouds and a busy bassline. Quality tackle for sure.

Review: Sometimes it really does seem like Perth-via-UK house mainstays Craigie Knowes, well... know! Emphatic of their own personal, cratebugging expertise, it would seem that their knack for tracking down and contracting brilliant yet not totally refined dance music talent stems from some unshakeable expert quality: perhaps some business-insider access to info about burgeoning underground artists we're not in on? Whatever the case, Berlin's Olsvanger is the next model musician to be called up, his former founding efforts of the likes of Tofistock and Powerpuff Tracks proving credential assets for the furthering of this aural arrester, 'The Core'. With two Kalahari Oyster Cult releases already under his belt so far, you know what you're in for: 'Goldman's Propeller' and 'Lava Luva' provide extra fishy aquamarine breaks and sexy sample-held step sequencings, perfect for lone raving over break-fast. Ptooey!

Review: You might think that Yassin Omidi is a newcomer, but in fact it is the new-coming of an already accomplished and respected head who now delves deep into the world of dub techno on Steve O'Sullivan's Mosaic. The beatless 'Sluder Dub' is coated in heavy fog and static with conscious vocal musings and the roomiest of chords landing with great drama and tons of echo. On the flip is another analogue sound that features buffed metal dub chords, classic effects and a shapeshifting ambient hiss. It's dramatic despite being such a minimal piece.

Review: Back in February, East End Dubz launched a new label, Rhythm Traxx - an imprint which the London producer intends to use as a vehicle for "timeless house music with an emphasis on raw energy and infectious grooves". For release number three, he's turned to newcomer Oncho - a producer with little or no online footprint. Title track 'Paradigm' sets the tone, with fluid synth motifs, sampled vocalisations and glitchy tech-house sounds riding polished beats and a deep, weighty bassline. 'Goes Like This' joins the dots between vintage UK tech-house and the alien, bass-heavy sounds of bleep techno, while 'Get Back'is a dirty, acid-fired slammer and 'Thorough' is a TB-303-powered slab of deep tech-house. Closing cut 'Dreamin', meanwhile, is - unsurprisingly given the title - dreamy, glassy-eyed and hypnotic.